This video and poster series about cannabis is for New Zealand parents, caregivers, whānau and those working with young people to understand basic facts about cannabis use. Don't stop here, start a conversation.
Did you know that… Cannabis is New Zealand’s most popular illegal drug, but only 3% of secondary school students say they use it on a weekly basis.
When Cannabis is smoked the active chemical THC goes into the lungs, is absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the brain. The effects start within minutes and can last for half an hour or more. Cannabis is taken to the brain in a different way when eaten. This means it can be harder to know how strong the effects will be, and the effects can last for longer, which can be an unpleasant experience. Cannabis is a depressant and can be physically and psychologically addictive.
Cannabis affects different people in different ways. Some people feel relaxed, like listening to Bob Marley and get the munchies. Others can feel paranoid, depressed and confused, with a higher risk of triggering mental illness and seeing, hearing or feeling things that aren’t there.
Smoking a lot of Cannabis can affect your health, make it harder to concentrate, learn, play sports or find work.
So, remember to:
- Stop if you start to feel unwell or uncomfortable
- Don’t smoke and drive
- Always look out for your mates
Did you know...
Cannabis affects developing brains more than adult brains? During a person’s teenage years, their brain is developing and molding, therefore, it is best to avoid using a lot of cannabis or using it regularly for a long time. A lot of cannabis use as a teenager can increase problems from anxiety and it can also affect their memory and attention.
While cannabis is the most common illegal drug tried, it is uncommon for teenagers to use it regularly with only 3% of secondary school students saying they use it regularly.
Download a poster version of this video in:
- English
- Te Reo Māori
- Samoan
- Chinese
- Tongan
Kia mōhio koe: Cannabis
Kia mōhio koe……Ko te kai whakapiri rongonui rawa puta noa ki te motu, ko te whakamāninga, engari, ko te toru o rau o ngā taiohi e kai ana ia wiki, ia wiki!
Ina ka kaingia tētahi te whakamāninga, kia urua te THC ki ngā pūkahukahu, ki ngā ara toto hoki kātahi e kawe atu ki te roro.
Kahore ka roa ka rehu i te kai whakapiri ki tana mutunga i te haurua haora kei tua. Ka rerekē te haerenga ki te roro mēnā ka kaingia te tangata.
Me uaua te mōhio ki tōna kaha me te rōroa hoki tāna awenga ki te tangata. He āhua kino ki ētahi! He mea whakangoikore hei tā te whakamāninga kia mate warawara ā tinana, a hinengaro.
He rerekē te rehutanga ki tēnā, ki tēnā. Kia pārore ētahi me te pai hoki kia whakarongohia ngā waiata o Bob Marley me te kaha hiakai anō hoki! Ki ētahi atu, ka rangirua, ka kaha te aronga ki ā ia anō hei timatanga i ngā mate hinengaro.
He whakaaweawe te Hauora e te whakamāninga, ka whakauaua ki te whakaaro, ki te ako, ki te tākaro hākinakina tae noa atu ki te rapu mahi!
Nō reira, kia mahara atu! Kāti! Ki te rongo mauiui! Kaua e kai kai whakapiri kātahi kia hautu waka!
Tiākina ō hoa!!
About Did You Know
These tools and resources were initiated by the Counties Manukau AOD Provider Collaborative and the New Zealand Drug Foundation with support from Odyssey. Expert advice and participation from young people were used in their development. Creative by Mohawk Media.
Did You Know is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.